diff --git a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
index 095673399a..712b2534cc 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_nhg.c
@@ -3454,7 +3454,13 @@ void zebra_nhg_dplane_result(struct zebra_dplane_ctx *ctx)
 						 ZAPI_NHG_INSTALLED);
 			break;
 		case ZEBRA_DPLANE_REQUEST_FAILURE:
-			UNSET_FLAG(nhe->flags, NEXTHOP_GROUP_INSTALLED);
+			/*
+			 * With a request failure it is unknown what we now know
+			 * this is because Zebra has lost track of whether or not
+			 * any previous versions of this NHG are in the kernel
+			 * or even what those versions were.  So at this point
+			 * we cannot unset the INSTALLED flag.
+			 */
 			/* If daemon nhg, send it an update */
 			if (PROTO_OWNED(nhe))
 				zsend_nhg_notify(nhe->type, nhe->zapi_instance,